Elderly residents at a respite centre in Worcestershire can continue with exercise classes.

This is thanks to funding from Platform.

The Nora Parsons Centre, a respite care centre for ageing adults based in Wichenford, recently benefitted from successful funding support after an application to Platform Housing Group's Community Chest.

As a result, the centre can now extend its seated exercise programmes available to its patrons.

The additional support is sourced from a financial reserve designed for Platform customers, along with charities, clubs and associated not-for-profit organisations.

As per the platform, eligible candidates for such grants include those whose proposals benefit Platform customers directly.

Funding applications are thoroughly assessed against specific criteria by customers on the Customer Voice Panel.

Thanks to the successful grant, the centre can now finance another 12-month programme of chair-based exercises to aid attendees' physical fitness.

Thrilled with the development, treasurer Ian Brown at The Nora Parsons Centre said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this grant from Platform Housing Group.

"The classes not only support physical and mental well being, they also offer an opportunity for visitors - who are typically between 75 and 95 years of age - to come together and feel more connected."

Also pleased with the grant's social impact is Marion Duffy, chief operations officer at Platform Housing Group, who said: "Ensuring our customers have access to activities that aid physical health and encourage better mental health is incredibly important within our communities, particularly in rural areas.

"Classes like this also have that added bonus of bringing people together and offering social support to older generations."

Committed to providing respite care, The Nora Parsons Centre caters to adults from 21 neighbouring villages and enables families and friends to have a break from their caregiving roles.

The centre was founded in 1977 by retired district nurse Nora Parsons and is entirely run by volunteers, it seeks to combat loneliness among older adults after Ms Parsons found that many older people in the area spent much of their time alone.

Currently, around 20 people attend the centre regularly.